The author will award a $20 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn commenter. Please use the RaffleCopter below to enter. Remember you may increase your chances of winning by visiting the other tour stops. Those locations may be found here.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~BLURB:

Dos Angeles, the first in a franchise of mysteries featuring Paco Moran, puts the multicultural thirty-something ex-LAPD homicide detective turned reluctant private eye on the trail of a beautiful young Latina on the run with ten million dollars in cash. Half Anglo and half Mexican, Moran is a transitional character equally at home working in Beverly Hills or blue collar Boyle Heights, the tough East Los Angeles neighborhood where he was raised by a single mom. In his debut case Paco quickly learns he will be the fall guy if he doesn't track down the young immigrant who allegedly stole a small fortune from a sleazy Hollywood producer secretly laundering money for a notorious drug cartel. Paco's frantic search takes him on a roller-coaster ride through a shadowy place he calls Dos Angeles a city within the city and a virtual country unto itself.

Then, the day before the Pirellis were due home, something unexpected came up that needed her immediate attention. On hearing what she thought was the sound of a toilet running she first checked downstairs before heading up to the master suite. Inside the gaudy all gold and marble bathroom she discovered a puddle of water seeping out from inside the extra-long double vanity. Opening the main cabinet doors she saw one of the stainless steel hoses was leaking badly. She tried to tighten the connection but it had no effect. Afraid she might make matters worse, she turned off the valve and hurried downstairs to call a plumber on the approved contact list.A half hour later Sid Kantor showed up and Maria was immediately intimidated by his off-putting physical presence. Short and obesely overweight with a large shaved head, a Quaker-like beard, and dull, hooded eyes, Kantor reminded her of El Malvado, a cartoon villain that used to terrify her as a little girl in Oaxaca. Because of that and his gruff, unfriendly manner, she quickly sensed he was one of those aggressive white foreigners who only saw Mexicans as workers, never as equals.Not about to give him the satisfaction of staring at her shapely bottom on the way up the steep winding staircase, she politely stepped aside and gestured for him to lead the way. By the time they reached the second floor landing he was grunting and panting so much she feared he might have a heart attack.“Are you okay, sir?” she asked with genuine concern.“Ya, ya,” he muttered, wiping his brow with his shirt sleeve. “It’s dis damn heat.”Minutes later Maria stood by patiently as Kantor awkwardly maneuvered his way under the sink to remove and replace the faulty hose. When he finally finished he turned the water back on to test it.“Dat should do it,” he said in a heavily accented, non-American voice. “Let run five minutes to make sure.”After struggling to get back up on his feet Kantor gestured with the flashlight he’d been using, illuminating the inside of the cabinet.“You know what behind dere?” he asked, focusing the light on a small pocket door under the sink.“Behind where?” Maria was confused.“Dere, dere!” he growled, swirling the light around to emphasize what he was talking about“I don’t know,” she shrugged.“Strange. Hah?” He pointed the flashlight at the door again. “Must be something back dere.”Since Kantor was obviously way too big to crawl through himself, Maria volunteered to take a look while he was still there.“No time,” he said, tapping on his watch. “Late for next appointment.”He handed her a business card. “You call if any more problems.”She promised she would and saw him out.After he left, she decided to return upstairs to check behind the cabinet to make sure there were no hidden pipes that could be leaking. When she slid open the mystery door, she was startled to discover a secret room. “Dios mío!” she whispered.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Emmy nominee Michael O’Hara-- who has written and produced some of the highest-rated television movies and miniseries in recent memory – is adding author to his resume with the August, 2015 the publication of his first novel, Dos Angeles.The book, featuring a bilingual and bicultural private eye named Paco Moran, centers around Moran’s desperate search for a beautiful young Latina immigrant who stole ten million dollars from the mob. In a pre-publication review American Book Award winner Peter Quinn said: Paco Moran’s debut in Michael O'Hara's Dos Angeles is fast-paced, finely crafted, and full of surprises. It's noir fiction for the 21st century, a helluva ride from the first page to last. Here's hoping O'Hara brings Paco back very soon. I can't wait!A former award-winning journalist and NBC Vice President of Media Relations, O’Hara made an auspicious debut as a writer/producer with “Those She Left Behind,” a critically acclaimed family drama that continues to be the highest-rated TV movie (25.1/38 share) on any network in over twenty years. It starred Gary Cole and Colleen Dewhurst (who won an Emmy Award for her performance). That success was followed by the widely praised NBC movie “She Said No” which won an American Women in Radio & Television Award for Best Television Dramatic Special.O’Hara next wrote and executive produced “Switched at Birth,” the blockbuster NBC miniseries that earned an Emmy nomination as Best Dramatic Special and remains the highest rated (22 rating/33 share) miniseries on network television since its initial telecast over two decades ago. He was also the writer and executive producer of “Murder in the Heartland,” a celebrated ABC miniseries which garnered a Casting Society of America Award and two Emmy nominations. Right after that he created and executive produced the first of 22 “Moment of Truth” movies for NBC, establishing one of the most successful film franchises in TV history.O’Hara also wrote “She Woke Up Pregnant,” the pilot for ABC’s ‘Crimes of Passion’ franchise. It scored an impressive 13.4 rating and 21 share, making it the highest-rated ABC movie of the year. He went on to write “One Hot Summer Night,” another ‘Crimes of Passion’ thriller that was ABC’s highest-rated Thursday night movie of the season. Other producing credits include two CBS projects: “Twilight Zone – Rod Serling’s Lost Classics” and “A Child’s Wish,” which was filmed in the Oval Office and featured a cameo appearance by then President Bill Clinton. In addition he wrote and executive produced NBC’s “In His Life: The John Lennon Story” and “1st to Die,” a two-part NBC miniseries based on the best-selling novel by James Patterson.Overall O’Hara has produced four miniseries and 33 Movies of the Week. Besides his Emmy nomination, other honors include: a Christopher Award (“A Child’s Wish”); a Prism Award (“The Accident”); a Humanitas Award nomination (“Heart of a Child”); a National Easter Seal Society Award (“To Walk Again”); an International Health & Medical Film Award (“Heart of a Child”); and the Media Award from The National Council on Problem Gambling (“Playing to Win.”)

Congratulations to Author Olivia Howe on her beautiful new cover for her upcoming book 'Pretty Bird'

Pretty Bird

By Bestselling Author: Olivia Howe

Release Date: 11.14.15

Book Blurb:

Kenna loses her forever, Derrick, in a tragic plane crash that kills everyone on board - 150 people, including the love of her life. People keep calling her lucky, but she feels the opposite. Now she has to move on with her life without Derrick in it and no strategy for getting past this senseless tragedy.

Investigators tip her off that there may be more to the story... behind the crash, the menacing Company that controls people, and even her dead boyfriend.

When someone tries to kill Kenna again in her own home, she is shocked into action and starts to uncover the truth about the corruption and craziness around her, finding herself and her heart again in the process. They say that time heals all wounds. Kenna has a chance to find out if that is really true.

About the Author: Olivia Howe

Olivia Howe resides in a small town located in Maine. Born in 1994, makes her a very young bestselling author. She was originally born in Florida, but she considers herself a Mainer. In her spare time she loves to write, listen to rock music, and spend time with her family and friends. She's big on supporting authors and their books. She owns a book blog called Beautifully Broken Book Blog.

Olivia's family is her life. She has three beautiful nieces who she adores. They've helped inspire her to continue her writing career.

She's known for the Amazon Bestselling Series called The Dark Love Series. She has many more books in the works and some being published soon including: Pretty Bird, The Prisoner's Wife, Killer (Episode 1- Novella Series), and book three in The Dark Love Series called Trying To Remember.

Olivia's a huge fan of the Golden State Warriors, Patriots, and Red Sox. She's a TV show fanatic. Her favorites include: The Walking Dead, Vikings, Grey's Anatomy, The O.C., Orphan Black, Breaking Bad, Friday Night Lights, Homeland, Chicago Fire, Revenge, Chasing Life, and many more. Rock music is her life. Her favorites include: Led Zeppelin, Nirvana, Tesla, The Cure, Godsmack, Audioslave, Motley Crue, The Honorary Title, Candlebox, Evanescence, Lynyrd Sknyrd, and many more.

I'm excited to host Chanta Rand today for a MFRW Book Hook blog hop. There is a nice excerpt below from Man at Work. Have you ever been in this situation? What did you do? Any chance a handsome prince was behind you to help out?Be sure to visit the other authors links below that are part of this blog hop for more excerpts.

Man at Work

By Chanta Rand

~*~*~*~*~*~Excerpt:

She’d have to put something back. But what? She needed the nails, the leveler, and the three dozen chrome cabinet handles. She had a kitchen full of refinished cabinets waiting for an extreme makeover.

Just as she was debating whether or not to keep the circular saw, a deep baritone sounded behind her. “Allow me to help, pretty lady.”

When Candace turned toward the source of the voice, her expression of gratitude died in her throat. Dark brows and lashes as thick as fringe framed a sexy pair of chestnut colored eyes that boldly scanned her from the toes of her fresh pedicure to the tops of her threaded eyebrows. The fact that they were attached to the most devastatingly handsome face she’d seen in a long time didn’t hurt. Her benefactor had a smooth bald head and full lips that she imagined were well-versed in providing hours of unbridled pleasure.

Unfortunately, the five star review ended there.Not even the man’s square jaw and bulging biceps could detract from his disheveled appearance.Splatters of white paint liberally dotted his clothing from the collar of his well-worn black t-shirt to the tips of his dingy steel-toed boots. Maybe she could have appreciated his chiseled physique if not for the ripped and dusty jeans encasing his muscular thighs.

She was not being rescued by Prince Charming, but by the enchanted frog instead.“No thanks,” she declined his offer. “I can’t allow you to pay for me.”“You can pay me back when you have dinner with me tonight.”

~*~*~*~*~*~BLURB:Real Estate Agent, Candace Jones is looking for man who can work it in the boardroom as well as the bedroom. What she's not looking for is a man with paint on his jeans and sawdust under his nails. That's why when she meets handsome Gabe Hunt at a local hardware store, she doesn't give him the time of day.

Millionaire, Gabe Hunt is captivated by Candace's full curves and sassy attitude. He wishes she would look beyond his beat up truck and rough exterior. He's more than just a fix-it man, but he keeps his true identity a secret from Candace, hoping she's not just another gold digger.

When Candace finds herself in need of Gabe's help to secure a lucrative contract, she learns he's not the average man at work.

Echoing the novels of Mary Alice Monroe, Allie Larkin, and Holly Robinson, this charming debut novel tells the unforgettable story of a rescue dog that helps a struggling young outsider make peace with the past.

Addie Andrews is living a life interrupted. Tragedy sent her fleeing from Chicago to the shelter of an unexpected inheritance—her beloved aunt’s somewhat dilapidated home in Eunice, Arkansas, population very tiny. There she reconnects with some of her most cherished childhood memories. If only they didn’t make her feel so much!

People say nothing happens in small towns, but Addie quickly learns better. She’s got an elderly next door neighbor who perplexingly dances outside in his underwear, a house needing more work than she has money, a best friend whose son uncannily predicts the weather, and a local drug dealer holding a massive grudge against her.

Most surprising of all, she’s got a dog. But not any dog, but a bedraggled puppy she discovered abandoned, lost, and in desperate need of love. Kind of like Addie herself. She’d come to Eunice hoping to hide from the world, but soon she discovers that perhaps she’s finding the way back—to living, laughing, and loving once more.

~*~*~*~*~*~Excerpt: She sighed and pushed her blond hair off her neck, piling it high on top of her head. Her thoughts went back to Chicago. To Jonah. To what life had been like before she’d inherited a house that needed more work than she had money. Jonah would have liked this house, she thought. Addie knew that if he were here, they would have stayed in town after the funeral. Jonah would have picked through each piece of furniture, each knickknack. He would have asked for stories about each one, stories Addie had long forgotten. She rested her head against the coffee table. It had a glass top, something her aunt had brought all the way down here from Chicago. It wasn’t worth much, as far as Addie could tell, but her aunt loved it and stuck cards from relatives underneath the glass. Each time Aunt Tilda had a visitor, she’d tell them about whichever relative happened to be resting underneath that visitor’s coffee mug. Today there was no coffee, and there were no visitors. There was no Jonah. Addie let her hair fall back down onto her sticky neck and said out loud to no one, “I’ve got to get out of here for a while.” The Mississippi River in Eunice, Arkansas, looked nothing like it had when she’d crossed the bridge in Memphis. It was smaller, tranquil almost. Addie stood with her toes touching the water. She hadn’t been down to the levee since the last time she’d visited Eunice. Even this close to the water, it was hot outside. She found herself wishing she’d just stayed inside with all the unopened boxes and dusty furniture—at least there was air-conditioning. Gazing around, Addie realized that this was no longer the nice, clean picnic area that her aunt had taken her to during her childhood visits. The tables were overgrown with weeds, and there was an obvious odor of trash in the air. This place hadn’t been taken care of in a long time. Addie bent down to wash out her flip-flops when she heard a noise coming from behind her. She turned around to face a small wooded area. The noise grew louder. It sounded like a whimpering, but all she saw were bushes. She shoved her feet into her shoes and walked over to the direction of the noise. She pushed her way into the first set of bushes, where a thin layer of trash covered the ground. Off to one side there was a large, black trash bag. The trash bag was moving. Addie crept closer to the bag. She bent down and touched the plastic. It had been tied in a tight knot. Digging her fingers into the plastic, Addie ripped the bag wide open. The object in the bag stirred, whimpering slightly. It lifted its head and tried to move, but failed. It was covered in blood and blood-soaked newspaper and dozens of crumpled packages of Marlboro Reds. Addie was looking at a dog.

~*~*~*~*~*~Author Info:

Annie England Noblin graduated with an M.A. in Creative Writing from Missouri State University and currently teaches English for Arkansas State University. Her poetry has been featured in such publications as the Red Booth Review and the Moon City Review. She lives with her son, husband, and four rescued bulldogs in the Missouri Ozarks. In addition to her writing, Noblin started working with rescue organizations
across the country ten years ago, and has never looked back. The work she does serves as an inspiration in everyday life, as well as in her writing.

A Christmas book by RaeAnne Thayne, allow me just a moment revel in my glory for a moment here. I love Christmas stories and RaeAnne Thayne is one of my very favorite authors. To say that I could not wait to read this book would be an extreme understatement. Evergreen Springs lived up to every glorious expectation that had. Of course I don't think I have ever been let down my a RaeAnne Thayne book. This talented lady knows how to write a small town romance story. I remembered Devin Shaw from the previous book in this series. I already had a small connection with her so it did not take long for me to form a bond with this strong, independent, intelligent, so kind hearted lady. She loves her job and takes her responsibility to heal very seriously. She is kind to her patients and takes time to listen to their problems whether they meet in her office, the hospital, or may be the grocery store. I loved that about Devin she knows everyone and cares for them all. Cole Barrett has a troubled past that weighs him down with heavy baggage. He loves his kids and I admired that quickly. He is doing his best to help his kids deal with a tremendous loss and they are all getting to know each other. Cole maybe just a tad bit, stubborn may be a good word. He's has a kind heart that shows with his and kids and his sister. He keeps to himself and does what needs to be done. Devin and her kind heart step in to help Cole with the kids. She's great with the kids and pretty darn good with Cole too. They have an instant attraction but they both try to fight it. There is plenty of drama as these two get to know each other and find deeper feelings than either of them anticipate being there. I love stories with kids because they add so much. Jazmyn is a sweet little girl that tends to put up a wall of harsh words and a "I don't care" attitude to deal with her loss and the changes in her life. Ty is the sweetest little boy. He opens his heart and trust to anyone that is kind to him. These two really do add a nice touch to the story line and certainly touched my heart. Ms. Thayne has written yet another perfect small town romance Christmas story in my book. She has the right mix of emotional issues, romance, friendships, family issues, and the unconditional love of families. There is drama and conflict. I love series because I get a chance to see all my "friends" from previous stories. It was great to "see" everyone in Haven Point and enjoy all the great events of the holiday season. This is a wonderful small town to "visit". Everyone is caring and kind to each other and strangers alike. They are there for each other when someone is in need. Evergreen Springs is the third book in the Haven Point Series. However I think it will stand alone just fine. I don't think you would feel like you were missing too many pieces if you start here. The whole series is wonderful though. If you love a great small town romance written with a lot of heart then you really should check out RaeAnne Thayne's books. She does a wonderful job of connecting me with the characters quickly and captivating my attention with a great storyline every time. I was given the opportunity to read this fabulous book so that I may share my thoughts with you. As always it has been my great pleasure to share my thoughts with you on Evergreen Springs. You may find more of my reviews on RaeAnne Thayne's work here.

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

The author will award 5 winners via Rafflecopter a signed copy of FUGLY + FUGLY Tote + Key Chain, Magnet, Bookmark, and Bumper Sticker. Please use the RaffleCopter below to enter. Remember you may increase your chances of winning by visiting the other tour stops. Those locations may be found here.

￼~*~*~*~*~*~*~BLURB:

My name is Lily Snow. I am twenty-five years old, and despite being born with an unattractive face, I have never doubted who I am: smart, driven, and beautiful on the inside.Until I met Maxwell Cole.He’s handsome, excessively wealthy, and the owner of Cole Cosmetics. It’s been my dream to work for this man for as long as I can remember. The good news is he wants to hire me. The bad news is he wants me for all the wrong reasons. Ugly reasons.In exchange, he’s offered me my dreams on a silver platter. The job. The title. A beautiful future. But this man is as messed up and ugly as they come on the inside. I’m not sure anyone can help him, and he just might take my heart down with him.

“You’re not qualified.” He threw the sheet of paper on the table and shot me a harsh look before abruptly standing.“But I—”“Thank you for coming,” he said in a tone that told me he wasn’t thankful at all. More like put out, annoyed, maybe pissed off.My mouth hung open as he walked out of the tiny conference room, not bothering to shake my hand or look at me or hear anything I had to say.My emotions fell somewhere between epic rage and heartbreak. He’d treated me like a leper or some mangy dog with rabies. And as my mind quickly digested everything that happened in the last sixty seconds, I could only come up with one reason for his behavior: my looks. And, hell no, I wasn’t crazy or making it up. That expression on his face when he’d walked in the door? The way he’d shaken my hand?I covered my face and let out a shaky breath. This can’t be happening. I expected this sort of behavior from a shallow, pompous asshole that only valued women for their beauty, but from Maxwell Cole?My mind went into a tailspin of anger, despite my conscience urging me to take the high road—a road I knew like the back of my hand. After all, I was a nice, caring person. I didn’t yell at people—or hadn’t in years. But that had been back in school, and only when some jerk decided to mess with one of my painfully shy friends or my disabled brother.But you can’t let Maxwell Cole do this, Lily. I’d worked my ass off to have the right experience for a job like this. Okay, yes, I had other options besides C.C.—I wasn’t stupid or naïve enough to put all my eggs in one basket—but those other companies weren’t Cole Cosmetics. They weren’t companies I related to and believed in. Those other companies didn’t tell the world you were beautiful for who you were on the inside and to buy their products simply because you enjoyed pampering yourself. Cole Cosmetics didn’t believe in making women feel ugly to sell makeup. And that’s exactly what inspired me to work in this industry. We all deserved to feel beautiful and have nice things regardless of what others thought about our looks.Only that prick has been lying to the world.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling Romance author, host of the radio talk show, Man Candy, on Radioslot.com.When San Francisco native Mimi Jean went on an adventure as an exchange student to Mexico City, she never imagined the journey would lead to writing Romance. But one MBA, one sexy husband, and two rowdy kids later, Mimi would trade in corporate life for vampires, deities, and snarky humor.She continues to hope that her books will inspire a leather pants comeback (for men) and that she might make you laugh when you need it most.She also enjoys interacting with her fans (especially if they're batshit crazy). You can always find her chatting away on Facebook, Twitter, or saying many naughty words on her show MAN CANDY on Radioslot.com !Find out more about Mimi and upcoming books at www.mimijean.net.

Author is giving away One (1) autograph copy of Captured, a magnet and a bookmark. Please use the RaffleCopter below to enter.

BLURB:

FBI agent Will Anderson is working his last human trafficking case before he leaves his painful past. Social activist Savannah Elliott thinks she has escaped hers by helping human trafficking victims regain their freedom. When a case unites them, can they overcome their scars and find love.

Terri J. Haynes, a native Baltimorean, is a homeschool mom, writer, prolific knitter, freelance graphic artist and former Army wife (left the Army, not the husband). She loves to read, so much that when she was in elementary school, she masterminded a plan to be locked in a public library armed with only a flashlight to read all the books and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. As she grew, her love for writing grew as she tried her hand at poetry, articles, speeches and fiction. She is storyteller at heart. Her passion is to draw readers in the story world she has created and to bring laughter and joy to their lives.Terri is a 2010 American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis contest finalist, and a 2012 semi-finalist. She is also a 2013 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Quarterfinalist. Her publishing credits include Cup of Comfort for Military Families, Crosswalk.com, the Secret Place Devotional, Urbanfaith.com, Vista Devotional, and Publisher’s Weekly.Terri holds a Bachelor's Degree in Theology, a Master's degree in Theological Studies and a certificate in creative writing and graphic design, meeting the minimal requirements of being a geek. She and her husband pastor a church where she serves as executive pastor and worship leader. Terri lives in Maryland with her three wonderful children and her husband, who often beg her not to kill of their favorite characters.

Contest ends: October 9, 2015 11:59 pmOpen: InternationallyTerms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author Terri J. Haynes and is hosted and managed by Paulette from Write Now Literary Book Tours. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send an email to Paulette @ pharperjohnson@gmail.com

The much anticipated, and super sexy & steamy, finale to Alexandr and Jessica’s story: ALEXANDR’S RELUCTANT SUBMISSIVE by Ann Mayburn

The wait is over! Get the super sexy, and climatic (pun intended) ending to Alex and Jessica’s story. We hear it’s too hot for words! Fans of erotic romance and BDSM or who are looking for #whattoreadafterFiftyShades, are going to love Alexandr’s Reluctant Submissive.Readers will want to make sure they’ve read Alexandr’s Cherished Submissive as this is a two-part story and Alexandr’s Reluctant Submissive is part-two.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~Synopsis:

Note- this is part TWO of Alex and Jessica's story. Part ONE, Alexandr's Cherished Submissive, should be read first for the most enjoyment.

After believing for five years that his wife and daughter were dead, Alexandr Novikov’s world changes forever when he learns not only are they alive, but that the vile person who tore his family away from him was none other than his father, Jorg. Determined to make up for the lost time, Alex has to set about winning not only the heart and trust of his wife and daughter, but also healing the emotional damage done to Jessica by their forced separation. Something easier said than done when jealousy rears its ugly head and Jessica has to deal with all the women Alex was intimate with after her supposed death.Jessica has been praying for the chance to reunite with Alex, hopeful that they can be the family they were meant to be, while reclaiming and rebuilding their relationship. That is, if she can get her husband to see her as something other than the naive twenty-year-old girl he married who was content to let him run the show. She’s grown up during their difficult time apart, and she’s no longer happy with just being a piece of arm candy for her powerful husband. If he’s going to bring her back into the deadly world of the Russian mafia Alex needs to realize that she’s strong enough to be his partner in name and in truth.But Jorg isn’t done meddling with their lives yet and his actions will have deadly consequences for generations to come.Warning- This book contains a rather kinky Bravta lord who likes to give his woman all the pleasure she can handle with the help of his friends and includes anal, F/F play, spanking, domestic discipline, and a M/F/F/M/F/M/F/M/F scene that'll make you squirm.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~About Ann Mayburn:With over forty published books, Ann is Queen of the Castle to her husband and three sons in the mountains of West Virginia. In her past lives she's been an Import Broker, a Communications Specialist, a US Navy Civilian Contractor, a Bartender/Waitress, and an actor at the Michigan Renaissance Festival. She also spent a summer touring with the Grateful Dead-though she will deny to her children that it ever happened. From a young Ann has had a love affair with books would read everything she could get her hands on. As Ann grew older, and her hormones kicked in, she discovered bodice ripping Fabio-esque romance novels. They were great at first, but she soon grew tired of the endless stories with a big wonderful emotional buildup to really short and crappy sex. Never a big fan of purple prose, throbbing spears of fleshy pleasure and wet honey pots make her giggle, she sought out books that gave the sex scenes in the story just as much detail and plot as everything else-without using cringe worthy euphemisms. This led her to the wonderful world of Erotic Romance, and she's never looked back. Now Ann spends her days trying to tune out cartoons playing in the background to get into her 'sexy space' and has accepted that her Muse has a severe case of ADD. Ann loves to talk with her fans, as long as they realize she's weird, and that sarcasm doesn't translate well via text.

Crystal: Today I have the pleasure of hosting Nicole Leiren. Welcome Nicole! I'm so happy to have you here today. Would you share a little bit about yourself with us today?

Nicole: What a question to start off with! :) Deciding what to share about me in a short paragraph reminds me of trying to write a hook for a book. You take 65K words or more and try to condense them into one or two sentences (or paragraphs for the blurb) Let me see if I can find a way to give you a blurb for my 46 years. (Like how I shared my age without using a part of paragraphs? LOL)

I’m a Midwest girl, born and raised. While I absolutely love visiting other areas of my country and travelling to locations outside the U.S., I can’t imagine not ever living in the Midwest. After living in a small town, visiting the country and big cities, I discovered that I’m quite happily a suburbanite.

My philosophy about life can be summed up in three simple words: Live. Love. Laugh. While I know the execution of that philosophy in every day isn’t always easy, but I find if I can try to live each moment in the present, love and treat others as I want to be treated, and always…always find a reason to laugh, everything else will work out eventually. J

I love storytelling, both sharing my stories and hearing others. You learn so much about a person by the stories they tell. In our Midwest home, I have a wonderful husband who has been my real world hero for over 26 years now and we have one daughter, age 25, that is beautiful both inside and out. She turned out well, despite the fact her dad and I had no idea what we were doing!

And, finally, I’m immensely grateful to all of you who read those stories and share our love of a world where the stories end with a happily ever after. Thank you for hanging out with me here today and for sharing in my story of this wonderful journey.

Crystal:What are you currently working on?

Nicole: I’m currently writing book 2 in the “Heroes of the Night” series, “Remember the Night.” Writing a series is a lot of fun as it feels like I’m get to hang out with all the characters and play in their world each day when I sit down to write.

Crystal: Where did you come up with the idea for either your current release or the WIP you are working on now?

Nicole:I spend a lot of time in airplanes, traveling for my day job. Though my friends say I’m a social butterfly, when I get on a plane, I love to put my headphones in and zone out. Sometimes I read, write or work, but the headphones are always on. Occasionally, though, I meet someone during the initial pleasantries you typically exchange with whoever will be all up in your personal space for however long your flight is (not a lot of extra room on planes these days! LOL) On a flight from Chicago to New Orleans one time I sat next to a man and we struck up a conversation. For the entire flight, he regaled me with tales from his life, his philosophies on women and love. When we landed, I laughed and told him I couldn’t have made all of that up even if I tried. I then asked if I could use some of what he told me to inspire a character. He agreed. That conversation breathed life into our hero, Daniel. Of course, he needed a woman who could counter and challenge all of his thoughts about love and women and see past the bravado. Who better to do that than Melodie, a children’s librarian.

Crystal: Do you have a favorite snack that like to munch on while writing? If so would you mind sharing what it is with us?

Nicole: Because I almost always write in the evening after dinner, I try to avoid snacking too much (though an emergency chocolate stash is always good to have close by). A large glass of ice water is a necessity though. Wetting my creativity maybe? LOL okay that’s a stretch, but having the water prevents me using the excuse that I’m thirsty and having to leave the keyboard to get a drink.

Crystal: Do you have a favorite scene you would like to share with us?

Nicole: This was difficult as I have a lot of favorite scenes. J I decided to share one from a date night that Daniel and Melodie have. She confesses during dinner that she’s never stayed out all night, not even in college. Daniel offers to take her on an adventure to make that happen for her. This is an excerpt from the scene that follows:

**

Heaven. Of all the places he'd been in the world, and he'd been to many, nothing compared with watching Melodie's face as the sun set over the lake. Her hair, a blanket of silk resting above her shoulders, now framed her face in wild, sexy disarray from the ride over. Her face registered pure bliss from the first moment the wind started whipping around her face.

First time I've put that look on a woman's face and not been naked.

She looked free, happy even. God help him, he wanted to be responsible for putting that look on her face every day and a look of need every night.

The sky was a beautiful medley of purple and oranges as the sun prepared to skim the water before disappearing for the night. A final streak of yellow, the last remnants of the sun's rays coloring the blue lake, stretched out over the water, almost touching the land.

He couldn't stop himself. His hand smoothed wisps of hair from her cheek, tucking them behind her ear. "You're breathtakingly beautiful."

Forcing himself to move slowly, he leaned toward her. He wanted to savor every detail of this moment. First, he kissed her temple focusing on the soft-as-silk hair. One more kiss there before anointing her forehead with the same deliberate attention. He respected her mind almost as much as he did her body. Cheeks, reddened from the hot Texas sun, warmed his lips before he moved to his final destination. Their lips touched. Absent the intensity from last night, warmth infused Daniel—like a pitcher being filled by a slow-running faucet, controlled and satisfying. Plenty of night left. No need to rush and scare her off again. He pulled away and kissed her gingerly on the tip of her nose. The warmth continued as she smiled, taking his hand before resuming her watch of the vanishing sunset. Though he wanted to only watch her, he forced himself to focus on the natural beauty in front of him.

Fifteen minutes later, he squeezed her hand. "Ready to hit the open road?"

"Oh yes."

Was it possible for her eyes to light up brighter than the setting sun? Not even the most amazing sunset could tear him away from staring into her green, fathomless depths of light. Maybe I'm a hopeless romantic. Damn. Forty-eight hours with this woman and I've gone all soft. "Then let's not waste a single second."

"You're crazy!" Melodie called out over the wind whipping around her face.

"Crazy about you." He pushed the gas pedal a little harder to increase their current speed. Not another living soul or automobile could be found on Interstate 281 this time of night. His need for speed and Melodie's constant smile, as she stared up at the moon hanging brightly in the sky, represented the main explanation for his lead foot tonight. A run-in with a State Trooper wouldn't even dampen his mood right now. He'd gladly pay any ticket for the fun life had delivered over the past few hours.

"Where are we going?"

"San Antonio. We'll take a walk along the River Walk, find a late night diner to grab a quick bite, and then head back to Dallas. Should arrive in time to watch the sunrise. Sound good?"

"Sounds amazing."

Her unbridled joy washed over his war-hardened heart, bringing a sense of contentment. Other than honesty and respect, she'd asked nothing of him. Hell, she even paid for a round of drinks last night. He needed to be careful, or he'd lose himself in the worst kind of way in this woman. A way that meant he could never go back to the jaded man he'd become. Four hours later, Daniel pulled off the highway and took an incline ramp before turning into a "Share the Ride" parking lot. Lifting the hand Melodie still held, he kissed hers gently. "Ready to bring in the morning?"

"I'll grab the coffee." She retrieved the two cups of Starbucks, extra-hot, they'd procured a couple exits back, along with some cinnamon scones.

Daniel hurried to the passenger side and opened the door for her. "Your sunrise awaits, milady."

"Where do you want to sit?" Melodie surveyed the limited options.

Daniel opened the trunk and pulled out a blanket. He grinned as Melodie's eyes widened when he threw the blanket across the hood of the car. "C'mon. Best seat in the house."

"Seriously?"

He nodded. "Seriously. Have I led you astray since our little adventure started yesterday evening?"

Grinning, she handed him his coffee and the bag of scones and crawled up on the hood. Her first attempt almost landed her on the ground as she, along with the blanket, slid down the vehicle. "Oh!" Somehow, she managed to not spill the entire contents of her coffee.

He tossed his coffee and the scones to the ground and caught her just in time to stop her fall straight to the asphalt. Making sure she had her feet under her, he picked the blanket up and repositioned it on the hood. "Let's try this again." This time, he scooped her into his arms, holding her close enough to enjoy the lingering scent of her perfume.

"You really have to stop saving me." Melodie whispered, her body sliding close to his as they settled in for the sunrise.

"I've saved countless people over the course of my life but none I've enjoyed more than you. Besides," he placed a soft kiss on her temple, "you don't need saving. You're a strong woman capable of taking care of yourself." Though true, a tug of protectiveness surged from deep inside. She might not need him to take care of her, but he wouldn't mind doing so.

The bright rays of the sun peeked over the horizon, filling the darkness with radiating light, waking the world to another beautiful day. "Thank you for helping me ace this makeup test. Not only was it my first time to stay out all night, I can't imagine a better evening, and the morning is shaping up quite nicely."

**

Crystal: When you are not busy writing wonderful stories to keep us lucky readers entertained, what do you like to do? Do you have a hobby?

Nicole: Between writing and a full-time day job that requires a large percentage of travel, there’s not a lot of free time. However, I love playing volleyball with my daughter once a week. We play on a fun league that several of my friends also play. This allows me to get much needed exercise, quality time with my daughter (there’s an hour commute each way to where we play) and time with friends.

My husband and I like to go to movies together (though the ratio of action movies to chick flicks is grossly skewed in his favor! LOL) or take a long drive together. It gets him away from the DIY network and me from my laptop and we can catch up and reconnect.

Crystal: Do you have a favorite background noise you like to having going while you write (TV, Music, kids playing)?

Nicole: I need white noise (usually a fan) going in the background. Otherwise, my tendency to be easily distracted *oooh shiny, sparklies* makes music or TV not conducive to quality word count. Sometimes, I’ll hear a song in the car that I think helps set the tone for a scene I need to write that evening. If so, I’ll listen to it on repeat several times before I start writing to help get my mind in the right place. Though I have to turn it off when I start writing, after a busy day of work, dinner, gym etc. it often helps me get my focus where it needs to be for the next scene.

Of course, my absolutely favorite background noise is the sound of the waves crashing into shore :)

Crystal:Thank you for visiting today. It has been a pleasure to visit with you. Is there anything else you would like to share with us?

Nicole: I can’t think of anything else other than I’m so honored to be here today and sharing a little piece of myself with you. Thank you for taking the time to stop by and I look forward to interacting with all of you today and in the future!

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BLURB:

The Few. The Strong. The Brave. Melodie Alexander, a children's librarian, prefers to live life between the pages of a book. But when the death of her best friend prompts her to step out of her comfort zone, she finds herself directly in the path of self-proclaimed bad boy, Daniel Bresland. Daniel knew how to be a solider. Life after war? Not as easy. He served his country in Afghanistan, both in the military and as a private contractor, but fighting the war came at high personal cost. Now he's determined to keep his relationships "casual" in order to protect his heart and prevent anyone from getting too close.

A chance encounter between Melodie and Daniel on a flight to Dallas proves that opposites really do attract. But when scars from the past threaten their new relationship almost before it starts, Daniel must decide if he can risk opening his heart again to convince Melodie he wants more than one night.

* * *

If you love men in uniform and believe the night belongs to lovers, then The Heroes of the Night series is perfect for you! Stories of military heroes, sexy and flawed, and the women they love.

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Excerpt

First Date

Daniel walked through the doorway promptly at eight. Never early. Never late. Beer, sweat, and women's perfume permeated his senses. My kind of party. He scanned the bar area looking for Melodie. Men in cowboy hats talking up women in high heels occupied most of the seats. Though there were some empty chairs, his date didn't seem to be the "I'll wait for you at the bar" type. Making his way through the hot bodies and large red couches interspersed for the comfort of the patrons who needed a rest from dancing in the lounge area, he searched the faces for a glimpse of her chocolate brown waves. Still no Melodie.

He rolled his neck to ease the growing tension. She didn't strike him as the type to agree to come and then back out. He moved to the center of the lounge area to check out the dancers. Though still early for a Friday night, the dance floor hosted a decent number of people gyrating to the band's rendition of a popular Def Leppard song.

Keen eyes scanned the crowd looking for her dark brown head bobbing in time to the music. Based on what he'd learned about her, it didn't seem likely she'd be hanging out with a bunch of strangers, but he felt compelled to cover all the bases. Still nothing. Where in the hell could she be? His disappointment seemed largely out of place for a woman he'd just met and had only known for a few hours. Time for a drink. Someday soon he'd have to find something besides alcohol and women to mask his pain, but that day was not today.

Moving back to the bar, he ordered a beer and made his way toward the outdoor patio. Maybe he could bum a cigarette off someone. He really didn't smoke, but sometimes he needed to distract himself from his nonstop internal diatribe.

Right before exiting, he caught sight of the brunette beauty, the most beautiful wallflower he'd ever laid eyes on. Melodie. In a denim skirt, white blouse, and red jacket—the picture of patriotism in a curvy, sexy package. He made eye contact and swaggered in her direction. "God bless the USA."

Her innocent look shot arousal through his veins, settling just below his belt. Thirty seconds and already he needed a cold shower. Or a hot time in bed with Miss USA here.

"Do you always make random comments, or do I just bring out the best in you?"

"You definitely bring out the best in me, sweetheart. I was just commenting about how patriotic you look in your red, white, and blue."

"Oh…" her blush matched her jacket.

Wanting to save her from herself, he gulped a few more swigs of his beer before tossing it in the trash can. "Let's dance, eighties girl."

Grabbing her hand, he pulled her away from the wall. His brows creased. She'd looked comfortable essentially fading into the woodwork. His eyes swept over her body. Why wouldn't she be the center of attention no matter what the occasion? Beautiful and smart with a hint of sweetness—a dangerous combination for his heart. Not wanting to delay his body in close proximity with hers one moment longer, he pulled her into the fray of the mosh pit, hoping modesty prompted her to lie about having two left feet. The moment her body started moving in time to the music, he forgot all about her feet as her softer curves begged for attention.

He matched his steps to hers. The crowd of people pressed against them, forcing their bodies closer. This is more like it. Muscles flexed, hips rotating—sharing all his best moves. Her moves were damn good too. Those hips…her breasts…even her legs…moving to Brian Adam's smooth beat. Each subtle sway sky-rocketed his libido to levels for which he couldn't be held responsible for very long.

The guitars strummed while the drums grew louder, feeding off the energy of the crowd. No slow songs from this group. Time to improvise and make his move. Pulling her tighter, he closed his eyes to focus on the warm-blooded woman fate had delivered in the seat next to him. This wallflower possessed curves which, at present, were exactly where he wanted them—pressed against his chest. Lower, the softness led to muscled thighs igniting multiple fantasies about them being wrapped around his hips. Despite his self-proclaimed promise to behave, he lowered his face to the curve of her neck, inhaling softly. Sweet Jesus, not only did she rally every ounce of testosterone in his body to attention, but her sweet smell was capable of bringing any man…this man…to his knees.

Dear God in heaven, he was in trouble.

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About the Author:

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Nicole is a debut author with her contemporary romance series, Heroes of the Night. She has been an avid reader and lover of books from a very young age. Starting with Encyclopedia Brown, Nancy Drew, and The V.I. Warshawski novels, her love for mysteries grew and expanded to include romance and suspense. A Midwest girl, born and raised, her stories capture the love and laughter in her real world heroes and heroines.